Inver

Am jealous. My Andy and a mate are going to see The Script tonight at the AECC in Aberdeen. Bet they are great. Didn't want to cramp his style though by going with him.

'The Island' by Victoria Hislop At last I can say I have finished it, not that I wasn't enjoying it other bookrings etc came along and interupted the flow. This was a well written tale of fact/fiction based on an Island in Crete called Spinalonga. Alexis wants to find out more about her mother Sofia's past as all she knows is that she grew up in a small Cretan village. She decides to go to Crete and Sofia gives her a letter to take to an old friend who still lives there. This she does and Fotini takes the time to tell her everything she knows. Alexis is astonished to find that Plaka, the village is only a short distance from the deserted island Spinalonga, the former leper colony. Fotina unravels the truth about her family and she discovers things that her mother has never told her, due to feeling ashamed about the past and memories and facts that she only discovered herself when she was 18. It was a very moving and emotional read at times, mixed with love, and family secrets, illness, grief and filled with strong characters. I had know idea that this place ever existed. Very well researched and insight into such a devastating time for those who suffered from leprosy. 4/5

At long last I can say.......finished The Island by Victoria Hislop and I enjoyed it.

U'13's put up a brave fight against a middle of the A league team. They were beat 5-1 in the end but 3-1 would have been the better score. Totally unlucky by two of the goals that were scored that were unstopable. Andy was well pleased with their efforts though and told them so. Not bad to get into a quarter final in their first season. When he thanked the ref he replied that the game was a pleasure to do, both teams and sidelines being well behaved! Good news too, Glendale's goalies suffered no broken ribs, just badly bruised. They had a game tonight but beaten 5-2....they could do with a win. Andy getting frustrated too as they keep playing him out of position, back to left back tonight ( he has usually been playing up front). They are trying to keep him sweet by saying he played well.

Another loss....beaten 3-2 today and their goalie went in for a 50/50 ball and came off worst. Had to be taken to hospital, may have a cracked/broken rib. We haven't heard anything yet. Andy and the U'13's have a quarter final tomorrow, so hoping the pull their socks up and play well to get to a semi. Be great if they could for their first season, although they aren't doing as well as they hoped in the league.

As usual Scotland leave it to the last game ! Well done Ireland...great win against England. Go the Welsh!

Same tactics for the final then....

What was the score by the way to get you into the final?

Just started 'Lovers & Newcomers' by Rosie Thomas.....and I am still reading The Island and should really get on and finish it!

What stars Sedge....great stuff No footie to report again this weekend....rain stopped play yet again.

Just finished 'Cuckoo' by Julia Crouch......bookring run by Michelle....... and a great read....if you haven't joined the bookring go do it now

'Cuckoo' by Julia Crouch What a brilliant read for a debut novel. I hope she writes more. Like Chrissy I was hooked from the first few chapters. Two friends who are brought back together by a phonecall when Polly phones to say her husband has died. Rose doesn't think twice about inviting her and her two boys to stay with them, for as long as they need to. You travel along with their day to day lives, but there is that underlying niggle of wondering what the history between the two friends are. Slowly things are revealed but Rose hopes that her secret stays a secret from her husband. The baby is rushed to hospital due to a careless accident (or was it). Doubt after doubt is brought to the fore about Polly and what her motifs are, and slowly but surely she gets under Rose's skin. You rush through this to get to the conclusion and I wasn't disappointed and leaves you wondering!!!! It would make a good TV film I think. A must read.... to Michelle for putting this out as a bookring, if you haven't joined up to read it you must. 5/5 (recommend)

Sorry to say Maureen I had to give up....just not holding my interest and so much so I read something else inbetween, went back to it but nope. It just wasn't my kind of read in the end.So it is winging it's way to my fellow bookcrosser who is next in line in the bookring for it.

Sounds like you gave them a run for their money though Sedge...shame about the the injury time goal...hate when that happens

Questions are too hard Too many spring to mind but one who has been featured on here would be Linda Gillard. And we have followed her progress and wish her well wtih book No.4. I also like Jodi Picoult. Q2 is proving more difficult to answer though...have to think about it.

With me and family Odd sort of film, but good fun....spaghetti western with desert critters....lol

Two defeats this weekend. Glendale got beat 3-0...out a cup and U'13's 4-2, but much improved play from last weekend and deserved at least a point. How did your game against the league champs go Sedge?

Not one I had heard off, but she offered to send it....thick book so will take me a while and small print too. Finished 'Away from it All' by Judy Astley

'Away from it All' by Judy Astley Decided to read something easy and light while struggling with 'Runemarks'. Quick, easy, lighthearted, humourous, laugh out loud on occasions. Alice's mother takes ill and her brother says she should come down to Cornwall to look after her. The family home is in disaray and falling into decay. Should she stay on and leave their comfortable way of life in London? She takes a long hard look at life, while her ailing mother is interviewed for a book and TV programme. Her brother and wife taking more notice of the illegal substances being grown in the veg garden than the chaos around them, while their wayward twin sons happily run riot. Her children become part of the easier way off life away from their posh schools and don't want to go back to London either. It has its almost laugh out loud moments. The tale comes to a tidy end and things work out for the best for everyone. 3/5

Received in the post A Fine Balance ~ Rohinton Mistry (this is part of World Book Night distritution sent to me via Heaven-Ali in Bookcrossing) Cuckoo ~ Julia Crouch (bookring run by Michelle)